Has you or a loved one recently been diagnosed with vascular dementia? This type of dementia rarely gives you the slow decline most people imagine with other types. Someone can be steady for months, then change within a fortnight, usually after a stroke or mini-stroke that went unnoticed at the time.
It may seem like a stressful road ahead, but it’s important to know that you’re not alone in these next steps, whether you need help caring for your loved one, or you’re looking for care yourself.
What is vascular dementia and how is it different from other types?
Dementia is an umbrella term for symptoms of memory loss, confusion and difficulty reasoning, all caused by damage to the brain. Vascular dementia is one of several conditions that produce them, the difference being limited blood flow to the brain.
It can progress after strokes, mini-strokes (TIAs), or when the brain’s small vessels narrow from fatty build-up in the arteries. Alzheimer’s Research UK reports that 1 in 3 people with vascular dementia have had a stroke, which is why decline comes in steps rather than gradually.
Starved of blood and oxygen, brain cells stop working as they should. This can show up as:
- Difficulty planning or concentrating
- Changes in mood and personality
- Memory loss of recent conversations or events
- Problems with balance and walking
- Slurred speech
The care for someone with vascular dementia typically starts after one of these vascular events or after being diagnosed by a GP and follow-up tests.
Around 180,000 people in the UK are living with it, the second most common form of dementia. Alzheimer’s Society notes that mixed dementia usually combines it with Alzheimer’s.
The stages of vascular dementia
There are two versions of the stages, one splitting the condition into three and the other into seven.
The seven stages of dementia come from the Global Deterioration Scale, published in 1982 and designed to describe Alzheimer’s disease. It maps a steady decline, which suits the progression of Alzheimer’s well, but fits vascular dementia loosely.
The three broader stages are more useful day-to-day with vascular dementia:
- Early stage: Someone manages most things alone but takes longer, bills may be missed, a familiar bus or car journey becomes confusing.
- Middle stage: Confusion becomes more constant and personal care needs support. Mobility also declines here, earlier than it would with Alzheimer’s, because of the damage caused by strokes. Many families find this the hardest stretch, as it involves changes in a lifelong relationship.
- Late stage: Someone needs help with almost everything in everyday life. Eating, drinking and going to the toilet properly are usually affected.
The best way to handle the next stages arriving is to decide who will be there when they do. Specialist dementia carers can be on hand at any time of day with live-in care to monitor any symptoms or deterioration, helping to keep the person with vascular dementia as comfortable as possible.
How to support someone with vascular dementia
Any dementia diagnosis can be an emotional and overwhelming time, especially when the person is also recovering from a stroke or heart attack. There are a few things that help:
- Give them more time: Slower thought is a defining symptom, so silence after a question doesn’t mean there won’t be an answer.
- Help them manage risks: There are no main treatments for vascular dementia, so the best source is through lowering their chances of making it worse, through better eating and moving habits.
- Keep the surroundings consistent: Familiar routines and a settled home reduce confusion and are the main reasons care at home suits so many people.
- Still have fun: Their diagnosis may not impact their ability to enjoy the good times until the later stages, which is why it’s important to help give them a happy, fulfilling quality of life by doing activities that interest them.
- Watch mobility closely: If they have recently had a stroke or heart attack, they may be frail and vulnerable to trips and falls. Trouble with movement is also a sign of the middle stage of vascular dementia progressing.
- Look after yourself too: Family carers often stop sleeping properly long before they admit anything is wrong. Exhaustion is often a sign you’re doing too much of it alone.
If you are the one who has been diagnosed
Many people worry more about what this means for their family than for themselves and think about how not to become a burden. Bringing in support early protects your closest relationships, keeping your decisions about your home and routine in your hands. Accepting help can preserve that independence you’re scared of losing.
Get the support you need at home
It’s possible to make living with vascular dementia easier from the comfort of your own space. Our dementia care could start as a few hours a week at first, and we’ll work with you to create a plan that suits you if things change. Our hospital to home service covers the period after discharge to help you adjust.
If you’re looking for vascular dementia support in Leicester, Bradford, Harrogate, Birmingham, Halifax or Redbridge, we’re here to help. Get in touch with the team today on 0800 688 8866.